10-9-02

I spoke with my client, Peggy, and her family today. I hope that they understood everything and the importance of what I have told them. I am a firm believer that a client with dysphagia needs as much support as they can get. I understand that sometimes it is hard to accept the fact that they can't eat the foods that they once loved. I know that it is hard for me to be on a diet! I feel for this woman and her family.
However, I think that it is important that patients listen to me and my co-workers and follow our instructions for their diet modification. It could possibly mean life or death and that is a scary thought for me. What if Peggy was eating something that she shouldn't be and aspirated? What if she caught pneumonia due to the aspiration!? The risks are there. The family needs to be involved and aware of the meaning of dysphagia. If a nursing staff is involved then they too need to be aware of the patient's diet modifications and enforce it.
I had a meeting with all of those involved today, gave them pamphlets and a small presentation in order to enhance their awareness. I thought that it was good for the nursing home staff because they will hopefully understand more and use the information with patients now and in the future. Gosh, I really can't say how I feel about the subject all except that it upsets me but it is something that has to be done. All I can do is make Peggy and her family as comfortable as I can. She is going to need a whole lot of support.

12-3-02

Peggy is doing so well. Her daughter is such good help. She has really been paying attention to her mom and what she is supposed to eat. We did have a little scare a couple of weeks ago. Peggy was eating some peanuts and she ended up getting really choked. We had to check and make sure that she didn't aspirate. She was lucky though. Elizabeth has also been doing good watching to see if her mom is positioned correctly in her chair. I think she has really kept her mom in tune to what is going on. I also spoke with Carol Williams, she is the nursing director at the nursing home. She is now sitting with Peggy at dinner time when Elizabeth can't be there. Carol and Peggy get along really well. I figured that Carol would sit with her. This is a really good family, they really work together. I just wish that all families were like them. George, my other patient is having a little more difficulty. He caught pnuemonia a couple of weeks ago. He is doing so much better now. I'm trying to leave hints to his daughter-in-law in order to get them more involved with George. The nursing staff has been taking care of him though. I think they learned a little bit during that in-service with the powerpoint. That was so much fun. I had never given a presentation with powerpoint before.

Well, I'm going to get back to my crafts. I need to take a brake. I think I'm going to watch Lilo and Stitch. I like to just disappear and do some things that doesn't involve thinking about work. :-)